Fiona Hughes, the groundbreaking first Secret Traitor from the hit BBC show The Traitors, has opened up about her unique experience, sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes details and a cunning tactic that never made it to air.
The Weight of the Crimson Cloak
The 62-year-old contestant, who entered the game in the show's fourth series earlier this month, described the surreal moment of being selected for the secret role. She was hidden behind the infamous crimson cloak, a twist that left her feeling both privileged and burdened with responsibility.
"To be given the privilege of being selected as having the red cloak was wondrous," Hughes confessed, "but I did feel as well that there came a lot of responsibility with it and a lot of power which went to my head."
Her strategy as a Secret Traitor was deliberate. She targeted fellow contestants who presented themselves as the most faithful, believing their elimination would cause maximum confusion. "I thought they were people who came across to me as being, as looking and behaving like the most faithful people on earth that nobody would question," she explained.
A Cunning Plan That Backfired
Fiona's time as a full Traitor, after losing her secret status when Hugo was banished, was fraught with tension. She entered an established partnership between Traitors Rachel and Stephen, feeling immediately like an outsider. "I felt that I wasn't welcome there, and that Rachel would be able to get me at some point," she said.
This fear led to her dramatic and ultimately failed attempt to turn the tables. In a tense roundtable, she publicly accused Rachel of "fibbing" about information from a banished contestant, a move she calls firing a shot too early. "I knew she's such a fantastic player and that it was my only opportunity... I wanted to do it on my terms and not be somebody's pawn. So my cunning little plan did spectacularly backfire," Hughes admitted.
The Unseen Sobriety Strategy
One of Fiona's most calculated moves was never broadcast. While other contestants relaxed with drinks after the intense roundtables, Hughes deliberately remained sober. Her aim was tactical: to gain an advantage over potentially inebriated rivals.
"I wanted to get them drunk," she revealed. "Well, if they drink it they might wake up with a hangover and be a bit loose-lipped and I'd be able to manipulate them and I could glean some information from them." She wryly concluded that, like her other plans, this ploy also failed to deliver the desired result.
Meeting a Television Icon
Reflecting on her time in the Scottish castle, Hughes said the setting was exactly as imposing as it appears on screen, leaving her in awe. She also shared warm thoughts about meeting the show's iconic presenter, Claudia Winkleman.
Gushing about Winkleman, Hughes connected her to a long-time personal heroine: Claudia's mother, veteran journalist Eve Pollard. "Claudia's going to be marvellous because Eve Pollard has been my heroine for so many years... So to get to meet Claudia and know that she's a spawn of Eve Pollard, that was great," she said.
She praised Winkleman's effortless style, stating, "you literally could put a black bag on that woman and she would look spectacular."
Despite her early banishment, Fiona Hughes believes she played the game to the best of her ability, embracing the unique pressure and spectacle of being The Traitors' first Secret Traitor. The latest series continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
